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N300 WiFi Router (N300R) User Manual
Safeguarding Your Network 2-11
May 2012
WPA–Pre-Shared Key does perform authentication. WPA-PSK uses TKIP (Temporal Key
Integrity Protocol) data encryption, and WPA2-PSK uses AES (Advanced Encryption Standard)
data encryption. Both methods dynamically change the encryption keys making them nearly
impossible to circumvent.
Mixed mode allows clients using either WPA-PSK (TKIP) or WPA2-PSK (AES). This provides
the most reliable security, and is easiest to implement, but it might not be compatible with older
adapters.
To configure WPA-PSK, WPA2-PSK, or WPA-PSK+WPA2-PSK:
1. Select Wireless Settings under Setup in the main menu. The Wireless Settings screen
displays.
2. Select one of the WPA-PSK or WPA2-PSK options for the security type. The third option
(WPA-PSK [TKIP] + WP2-PSK [AES]) is the most flexible, since it allows clients using
either WPA-PSK or WPA2-PSK.
3. In the Passphrase field, enter a word or group of 8–63 printable characters. The passphrase is
case-sensitive.
4. Click Apply to save your settings.
Note: Not all wireless adapters support WPA. Furthermore, client software is also
required. Windows XP with Service Pack 2 does include WPA support.
Nevertheless, the wireless adapter hardware and driver must also support WPA.
For instructions on configuring wireless computers or PDAs (personal digital
assistants) for WPA-PSK security, consult the documentation for the product you
are using.
Figure 2-4